Decurling attachment for hosiery seaming machines



Sept. 8, F G. REUTHER DECURLING TTACHMENT'F-OR HOSIERY SEAMING MACHINESFiled Jan. 5o, 1955 v4 sheets-sheet 1 gif/f" -F-/ 2 Rau H slur.

Sept. 8, 1936.

F. G. REUTHER Filed Jan. 30, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8; 1936. F. G.REUTHER 2,054,002

DECURLING ATTACHMENT FORHOSIERY SEAMING MACHINES' Filed Jan. zo, 1955 4sheets-sheet 3 far 'Affi Sept v8, 1936' F. G. REUTHER 2,054,002

DECURLING ATTACHMENT FOR HOSIERY SEAMING MACHINES Filed Jan. 30, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 7J" 55 I A 76 mi W15 l 7 5 l im 7; .-L 76 75 75 A WW2/MCil Patented Sept. 8, 1936 DECURLING ATTACHMENT FOR HOSIERY SEAIHINGMACHINES Frank G. Reuther, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to H. C. AberleCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationJanuary 30, 1935, Serial No. 4,144

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-20) This invention relates to a device for removingcurl from the selvedge or cut edges of knitted fabrics, particularly thelongitudinal or walewise extending edges thereof prior to joining saidedges together or to passing the edges into the feeding mechanism of asewing, looping, or other seaming machine, whereby such edges will bepresented to the seeming machine in fiat parallel relation to eachother.

The invention more specifically relates to improvements in decurlingdevices such as those used in connection with the seaming together ofthe edges of flat full fashioned hosiery blanks, such, for example, asthe device shown in U. S. Letters Patent to Lansing Onderdonk No.1,282,458, dated October 22, 1918.

The improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention areparticularly adapted for use in seaming hosiery which embodies certainfeatures disclosed in the prior U. S. Patent to John Hadeld No.1,444,684 dated February 6, 1923, and which is finished in accordancewith the practice of seaming hosiery, so as to present the smooth sideof the fabric outermost when the stocking is being worn, which practiceis disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,849,783, issued to Edwin B. Beachamunder date of March 15, 1932.

The decurling device disclosed in the Onderdonk patent is commerciallyemployed for seaming together the opposite selvedge edges of fullfashioned hosiery blanks which have been made in the usual manner andwherein the completed stocking is adapted to be worn with the rough sideout, i. e., the face whereon the needle loop Wales of the fabric areprominent, and which in the Beacham patentis referred to as the roughside of the fabric.

The Beacham patent refers to the seaming of the edges of a stockingblank together in such a manner that when the stocking is being worn therough side of the fabric is on the inside and the smooth side, i. e.,the face on which the sinker loop wales of the fabric are prominent, ison the outside.

The Hadeld patent refers to the production of full fashioned stockingsunder a process wherein the top portion of a stocking, including theusual double ply or turned Welt and a depending portion of the stockingleg composed of single thickness fabric, either with or without openworkor lace designs formed therein, is produced on a circular knittingmachine provided with automatic welt-'turning mechanism, and whereinsuch circular knit upper portion of the stocking is subsequently split,walewise, and a course of stitches forming part of the circular knit topis topped on to the needles of a fiat full fashioned hosiery knittingmachine and tol which the leg of the stocking is subsequently knit.

In carrying out the above feature of the Hadfield patent, the splitcircular top is normally topped on to the needles of the fiat hosieryknitting machine with the needle waleor rough side of the stockingfabric down, whereby, in the successive courses of the leg which areknitted onto the applied top, the needles of the fiat knitting machine,in drawing their stitches downwardly through the stitches of thecircular knit top which are then hanging on the needles of the fiatmachine, produce the needle loop wales correspondingly on the under sideof the stocking blank, so that in the completed stocking the line ofinterknitting of the circularly formed top with the fiat knit leg is notapparent.

When combining the above noted features of the Beacham and Hadeldpatents in a single stocking, the circular knit top is applied to theneedles of the flat knitting machine with the rough or needle Wale sideof the fabric uppermost, consequently when the leg portion of thestocking is interknit with the circular knit top the needle wales of theleg are on the underside of the fabric, consequently in the finishedblank the rough side of the top faces in one direction while the roughside of the leg faces in the opposite direction.

Under the above noted circumstances, when the stocking blank is seamedin the manner to place the so-called rough side of the leg fabric on theinside when the stocking is worn the socalled rough side of the fabricforming the top of the stocking is on the outside as usual. This isadvisable in order that the suture at which the inner lap of the turnedwelt connects to the outer lap of the Welt and to the single ply fabricor shadow welt at the top of the leg of the stocking and which is formedby the automatic welt-turning mechanism of the circular knitting machinewill be on the inside of the stocking when worn and any lacework whichmay be included in the turned welt, the shadow welt below the turnedwelt or both of the circular knit top portion of the stocking will beright-side out on the stocking when being worn.

It is characteristic of knitted fabrics that, regardless of whether thefabric be provided with a selvedge edge or whether the fabric has a, rawcut edge, the fabric immediately adjacent the edge thereof tends to curlin a, direction toward the smooth side, that is, toward the sinker waleside, thereof. Consequently in a stocking blank embodying the abovenoted features of the Hadneld and Beacham patents, the edges of thefabric constituting the foot and leg of the stocking curl in onedirection while the edges of the upper portion of the stocking whichhave been formed on the circular knitting machine curl in the oppositedirection.

The decurling device disclosed in the Onderdonk patent is adapted fortaking the curl out of the edges of a stocking blank wherein the curl onthe fabric is entirely in the one direction, such as in a stockingproduced in its entirety on a flat knitting machine. Consequently, instockings of the inside-out type, such as that disclosed in the Beachampatent, the decurling device of the Onderdonk patent is not operable inthe form disclosed in said patent; and in stockings combining the abovenoted features of the Hadfleld patent, insofar as the circular knit topof the stocking is concerned, and the feature of the Beacham patent,insofar as the turning in-sideout of the leg of the stocking isconcerned, the decurling device shown in the Onderdonk patent iseffective only in the seaming of the upper part of the stocking whichhas been formed on the circular knitting machine.

The object of the present invention is to construct a decurling devicewhich is adapted to remove the curl from the edges of the stocking blankembodying the above noted features of the Hadfleld and Beacham patents,in a single operation, from end to end of the stocking, that is, fromthe toe of the stocking to the extreme point of joining of the edges ofthe inner ply of the turned welt of the stocking.

The device forming the subject of the present invention will be fullydisclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings;of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a completed stocking embodying certain featuresof the Hadfleld and Beacham patents, as noted above;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the blank prior to the seaming of the oppositeedges thereof for producing a stocking similar to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the blank taken on the line4-4, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the blank taken on the line5-5, Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the blank taken on the line 66, Fig. 3;

Fig. 'I is a transverse view of the blank similar to Fig. 5 but showingthe blank folded along its longitudinal axis and prior to the seaming ofthe opposite longitudinal edges of the blank together;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the blank after folding on itslongitudinal axis and corresponding to the same portion of the blank asillustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the folded blank afterover-seaming of the coinciding edges of the blank and prior to thestocking being turned inside out in its completed form as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2; l

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a conventional over-seaming machine, suchas that illustrated in the Onderdonk patent with the improvementsconstituting the subject matter of the present invention appliedthereto;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the decurling device shown in Fig. 10and the immediately surrounding portions of the seaming machine;

Fig. l2 is an enlarged detached side elevation of the decurling deviceforming the subject matter of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged front elevation of the decurling device detached;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the decurling devicedetached;

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view taken on the line I5I5, Fig. 12;v

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation taken on the line I6-I6, Fig. 12, andillustrating the device as removing the outwardly turning curl along theopposite edges respectively of the blank as illustrated in Fig. '1;

Fig. 1'7 is a view similar to Fig. 16 but showing the device as removingthe inwardly turning curl from the opposite edges of the blank asillustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the device in operation; and

Figs. 19 and 20 are detached perspective views respectively of the mainelements of the device.

As illustrated inFigs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the stocking with which thepresent invention is particularly concerned comprises a lower portion I,which includes the leg and foot of the stocking; and an upper part 2which includes the turned welt 3 composed, as usual, of two-ply fabric3a and 3b joined together at ,and by the suture 4 and with a single plyportion 5 which, when composed of heavier thread than the lower legportion or of a plurality of threads providing a heavier constructionthan the lower leg portion of the stocking is commonly referred to as ashadow welt. The lower and upper portions I and 2 of the stocking areintegrally connected together, preferably in accordance with the featuredisclosed in the Hadfleld patent above noted, along the coursewiseextending line :zt-, Fig. 1.

In the stocking shown in Fig. 1, the rough side R of the upper portion 2is shown as being outermost and in the lower portion I, including theleg, instep, etc. of the stocking, the smooth side S is outermost.

In the blank shown in Fig. 3, the rough side R of the upper portion 2 isshown as being uppermost and the smooth side S of the lower part I ofthe stocking blank is shown as being uppermost.

In preparing the stocking blank of Fig. 3 for seaming to form thestocking of Figs. l and 2, the points I0, I0 at the opposite sidesrespectively of the toe line I2 of the stocking are turned inwardlytoward each other, as indicated by the arrows a, a, until the two pointsI0, I0 are in abutting relation to each other at the central point II,whereupon the overlying and coinciding portions of the toe edge I2disposed at opposite sides of the central point II are looped together.

The blank is then folded along its longitudinal axis indicated by theline y-y (Fig. 3) in the direction indicated by the arrows b-b until thepoints I3-I3, I4-I4, I5-I5, I6-I6, II-II, I8-I8, Iii-I9, 2li- 20, 2I--2Iand 22-22 along the opposite edges 25-25 respectively of the blank arebrought into coinciding relation to each other, whereupon the thenoverlying coinciding edges 24, 24 of the heel lying between the pointsI4 and I5 at the opposite sides of the blank are looped together in theusual manner. 'I'he remainder of the edges 25, 25 of the blank are thenseamed together from the points IIJ to 2,054,002 the points I4 and fromthe points is to nie points 22 and part way along the innerrply 3b ofthe turned welt 3, as usual. l i

In folding the blank along its axis y--y in the manner described thesmooth side S of the lower portion of the stocking is turned inwardly,as clearly indicated in Fig. 8, and as shown in said figure theopposi'teedges 25, 25 of the blank curl inwardly, from the points I to the pointsI4 and from the points I to the points 26.

From the points 20 to the points 22 the opposite edges 25a, 25a of theupper portion 2 of the stocking turn outwardly as clearly illustrated inFig. '1, and throughout the inner ply 3b ofthe turned welt 3 the edges25a, 25a curl inwardly toward the corresponding edges of the outerply 3aof the welt, as illustrated vin Fig. 4.

In a stocking constructed in the manner above described, it is necessarythat the decurling de vice be capable of taking the curl out of theedges of the lower part of the stocking and the curl out of the edges ofthe upper part of the stocking in a single continuous operation withoutinterruption, which cannot be accomplished by any prior art decurlingdevice known to the applicant The decurling device 32 comprises an arm33' y which is pivoied at 34 to a bracket 35 carried by the machine 30,said arm being adapted to ybe swung from its operative position shown infull lines in Fig. l0 to an inoperative position shown in broken linesin said gure.

Thearnr 33 is in the form of a flat plate, the opposite substantiallyparallel faces of which are recessed transversely of said faces near theouter free end of the arm 33, as indicated at 36, 36. Below the recesses36, 36, said Opposite faces of the arm 33 are respectively provided withsubstantially at surfaces 31 of irregular contour and which are disposedat an acute angle with respect to each other in that they convergerearwardly from the front edge of the arm toward the rear edge thereofand the bite of the feed rolls 3|, 3|.

Intermediate the convergent flat faces 31, 31 the front edge of the arm33 is provided with a relatively sharp blade-like portion 35.

The base 39 of the relatively sharp edged section 38 of said arm is oflesser thickness than thatportion of the arm lying between the forwardportions of the converging fiat surfaces 31, 31, and the forward arcuateedges 49 of the fiat surfaces 31 are offset laterally with respect tothe base 39 of the blade portion 38 of the arm, thereby providingshoulders 4|, 4| on the opposite sides of the arm adjacent the forwardedges 40, 40 of the convergent flat surfaces 31, 31 respectively. Theshoulders 4|, 4| are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the sidefaces of the blade portion 38 ofthe arm and to the faces 31, 31 thereof.

In front of the sharp edged portion 38 the arnf 33 is provided with abroad nosed portion 42 which extends forwardly from the lower end of theblade 38 between the flat face 31 on one side of c 3 the arm and themirage :1 onine opposite side of the arm. The upper surface 43 of thebroad nose portion 42 is inclinedk forwardly anddownywardly from thelower yend of the sharp edge 33 of the arm, said top surface. being.beveled inwardly and downwardly from each of the. fiat faces 31, 31toward the central plane of Athe arm and the sharp edge 38 thereof,asindicated at 44, 44, whereby relatively sharp edges 45, 45 are providedwhere the upperforward edges of the'at surfaces 31, 31 respectively.intersect with the top surface 43 of the broad nose portion 42 of thearm 33. .f

Intermediatepthe rear end 45 of the inclined upper surface 43 of thebroad nose 42 and the forward edges 41 of the shoulders 4| the flatsurfaces 31, 31 are recessed, as indicated at 48.

Adjacent its free end the arm 33 is beveled from the lower edges 43, 49of the flat surfaces 31, 31 respectively toward the extreme lower end 53of the arm, said bevels 5| being in opposed relation to each other,whereby the lower edge 50 of the arm from the fronty to the back thereofis made relatively sharp.

Projecting forwardly beyond the front of the broad nose portion 42 ofthe arm 33, said' arm is provided with a relatively sharp edgedappendage 52 which curves upwardly from the lower edge 5D of the arm andthen backwardly toward the front surface 53 of the broad nosed portion42 of the arm.

Above the recesses 36, 36 the opposite sides of the arm 33 are providedwith laterally extending lugs 55, 55 affording support for pivot pins56, 56 on which are rockably mounted clamp arms 51, 51.

The lower portions of the clamp arms 51, 51 are `shaped substantially inaccordance with the contours of the flat surfaces 31, 31 of thesupporting arm 33. v

Each of the clamp arms 51 is provided with a front edge 59 which lies tothe rear of the forward edge 53 of the adjacent flat surface 31 of saidsupporting arm 33; and a recess 58 corresponding to the recess 48 insaid adjacent fiat surface 31. The front portions 60 of the clamp arms51, 51 are in the form of hooks, the upper pointed ends 6|, 6| of whichlie below the top rear edge 46 of the nose portion 42 of the arm 33.

The outer faces of the lower portions of the arms 51, 51 are beveledrearwardly in convergent relation to each other as indicated at 62, 62and the lower edges of said arms 51 being beveled inwardly as indicatedat 63, 53. l

The lower portions of the arcuate edges 69, 69 of the arms 51, 51 arebeveled outwardly forming shoulders indicated at 10, which are inclinedin the direction opposite to the direction of the bevel of thecorresponding lower portions of the arcuate shoulders 4|, 4| formed onthe arm 33. The forward edges of the hook-like portions 60 of the arms51, 51 are beveled or rounded inwardly as indicated at 1|, 1|.

Above the pivots 56, 56 the arms 51, 51 are provided with extensions 13,13 through which and the arm 33 extends a stud 14, said stud beingrigidly secured intermediate its ends in the arm 33 with said endsprojecting through openings formed in the extensions 13, 13 of the arms51, 51.

Intermediate the extensions 13, 13 and extending through an openingformed in the arm 33 is a spring which exerting outward pressure uponthe extensions 13, 13 rocks the arms 51, 51 around their respectivepivots 56, 56, thereby tending at all times to move the flat innersurfaces11 at the lower ends of the arms 51 into flatcontacting'reiation to the flat surfaces 31, 31 on the opposite siderespectively of the arm 33.

Stop nuts 13, 13 threaded onto the outer ends of the stud 1I and bearingagainst the outer surfaces of the lever extensions 13, 13 control therocking movement of the levers 51, 51 about their pivots in onedirectionwhereby the inner faces 11, 11 of the arms 51, 51 may be heldin laterally spaced relation to the nat surfaces 31, 31 of the arm 33inaccordance with the thickness of the fabric of the stocking blank,when desired. l

In operation the arm 33 is moved into its full line pomtion shown inFig. 10 and the curled edges 25, 25 of the blank are respectively placedon opposite'sides of the arm 33 between the fiat surfaces 31, 31 thereofand the corresponding flat surfaces 11, 11 of the levers 51, 51, theconverging beveled faces and 63 of the arms 33 and 51 respectivelyfacilitating the passage ofthe fabric into the said position, it beingnoted that prior to sliding the two edges of the fabric simultaneouslybetween the arms 33 and 51 the operator has manually uncurled arelatively small portion of the edges 25, 25 of the blank, after whichas the fabric is pulled by the feeding rolls 3|, 3| the curl isautomatically removed from the edges of the fabric by either theshoulders Il on the arm 33 or the shoulders 1l on the arms 51 dependingupon the direction in which the curl turns with respect to the body ofthe fabric held between the flat surfaces 31 of the arm 33 and the flatsurfaces 11 of the arms 51.

As clearly shown in Fig. 18, the back edges 25, 25 of the leg portion ofthe stocking areAv shown as being secured together with the fabric beingdrawn through the decurling device in the direction of the arrow by thefeed rolls 3|, 3| of the seaming machine, the seaming being effectedfrom the heel toward the welt of the stocking in the present instance,although the seaming may be effected in the opposite direction, that is,from the welt toward the heel of the stocking, if desired. As shown insaid figure, the rough side of j the leg fabric is outermost, causingthe curl of saidleg portion to turn inwardly while the smooth surface ofthe welt or the top part 2 of the stocking is outermost causing the curlof the edges 25a thereof to turn outwardly from the planeof the fabric,the change in the curl from in to out being clearly shown atl 25h insaidgure.

As the inturned curled edges 25 are drawn into the decurling device theyrest primarily on the downwardly inclined surfaces M respectively ofthenose section l2 of the device, the point of protuberance 52 serving as aplow to separate/v. the two ply of the fabric one from the other. As thecurled edges- 25 pass off the rear edges 45 of the nose section, theyare separated by the blade 33 and pass to opposite sides of said bladebetween the flat surfaces 31 of thearm 33 and the flat surfaces 11 ofthe arms 51, whereby said curled edges are directed against the arcuatedownwardly and inwardly inclined shoulders Il on the opposite sides ofthe' arm 33 and as the fabric moves rearwardly between said flatsurfaces the shoulders 4| engage the incurled edges 25 of the fabric androll said edges outwardly due to the combined curvature and inclinationof said shoulders, the curl finally being removed from the edges of thefabric by the edges ofthe shoulders 4| at the points where the extremeedges of the fabric pass between the flat surfaces 31 and 11 at theintersections of the fabric with the curved edges 43 and 33 of the flatsurfaces 31 and 11 respectively. Y

As the fabric continues to be fed in the direction of the arrow, Fig.18,the straightening of the inner curled edges 25 is completed, whereuponthe twists 25h, 25h which connect the incurled edges with the outcurlededges 25a pass into the decurling device whereupon the upper surface ofthe nose portion 42 of the arm 33 loses contact with the curled edge.However, the outcurlededges 25a of the upper portion 2 of the stockingthen ride over the outer ends 6| of the arms 51, 51 which function asguides in feeding the outcurled edges 25a between the arms 33 and 51.The edges 5| of the arms 51 in entering the outcurled edges 25a at thetwists 25h start to effect the decurling of said edgesv and from thepoints 5| the said curled edges pass on to the outwardly inclinedshoulders 10 of the arcuate edges 53 of the arms 51 which complete thedecurling of the edges 25a in cooperation with the passing of the fabricbetween the flat surfaces 31 and 11 of the arms 33 and 51 respectively.The convergent relationship of the surfaces 31-31, 11-11 maintains theedges of the fabric in flat parallel relation to each other and deliversthe two edges of the fabric in such close relationship to each other atthe bite of the rolls 3|, 3| that recurling of the edges of the fabricis effectively eliminated between the rear edge of the decurling deviceand the bite of the feed rolls 3|, 3|.

With the decurling device as described, it is possible to lower thedevice so that the gauge pins 80 are much closer to the line at whichthe needle penetrates the fabric than has been possible heretofore.Consequently fewer wales along the Opposite edges of the fabric areincluded in the seam formed by the seaming element, consequently a muchfiner and neater seam is made possible by the use of the attachmentforming the subject of the present invention than has been possibleheretofore.

From the above, it will be quite clear that regardless of thedirection'in which the edges of the fabric'may curl with respect to eachother, either inwardly throughout the full length of the stocking,outwardly throughout the full length of the stocking, or inwardlythroughout part of the length of the stocking and outwardly throughoutanother part of the' length of the stocking, the device as describedwill remove the curl automatically without interrupting the feeding ofthe fabric by the feedrolls 3|, 3| of the seaming machine and withoutany manual operations on the operators part other than the usual primarydecurling of a relatively small portion of the edges of the fabric wheninitially placing the stocking between the cooperating arms of thedecurling device.

'I'he so-called decurling devices of the prior art do not remove thecurl completely and as a consequence thereof the seaming needle passesthrough two thicknesses of fabric at each edge of the stocking blank, orfour thicknesses in all, which produces ya thick unsightly seam at theback of the finished stocking. With the arrangement of parts in theapplicants case as above described, the curl is completely removed andthe edges are presented in flat lateral relation to each other to theneedle of the seaming machine, thus there are but two thicknesses ofmaterial for the needle to pass through, which makes it possible tostitch the blank real close to the selvage edges of the blank and thisresults in a very flne neat seam being produced up the back of thestocking, and which when the stocking is being worn permits the edges toassume a more or less at edge to edge lateral abutting relation to eachother producing what the applicant chooses to call an interlocked seamrather than the common overlock seam wherein the edges are seamedtogether while a portion of the curl or roll remains in the fabric.

I claim:

1. Aidevice vfor simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite fiatfabricengaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder aty and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said fiat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, and a fabric-separatingblade on said central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabric-engaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said flat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade.

2. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite flatfabricengaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said flat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabric-engaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said flat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade, and a guide nose on the centralelement in advance of said separating blade between the planes of the:dat faces on the opposite sides of said central element.

3. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally oppositeflatfabric-engaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuateedges, a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said flat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabric-engaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said fiat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade, and a guide nose on the centralelement in advance of said separating blade between the planes of theflat faces on the opposite sides of said central element, said guidenose having an upper surface transversely inclined in oppositedirections outwardly from the median plane of said nose.

4. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite flatfabricengaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges acurl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of said coincidingedges and disposed at acute angles to said fiat surfaces of the centraland side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade on saidcentral element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabric-engaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said at surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade, and a guide nose on the centralelement in advance of said separating blade between the planes of theflat faces on the opposite sides of said central element, said guidenose having an upper surface transversely inclined in oppositedirections outwardly from the median plane of said nose andlongitudinally inclined forwardly and vdownwardly from the lower frontportion of said blade.

5. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite ilatfabric-engaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said fiat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabric-engaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidlcentral element, said acute `angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said flat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade, a guide nose on the central elementin advance of said separating blade between the planes of the fiat faceson the opposite sides of said central element, said guide nose having anupper surface transversely inclined in opposite directions outwardlyfrom the median plane of said nose and longitudinally inclined forwardlyand downwardly from the lower front portion of said blade and arelatively pointed protuberance projecting forwardly from the front ofsaid guide nose.

6. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively spectively ofsaid dividing blade, s guide nose on the central element in advance yofsaid separating blade between the planes of the fiat faces on theopposite sides of said central element, said guide nose having an uppersurface transversely inclined in opposite directions outwardly from themedian plane of said nose and longitudinally inclined forwardly anddownwardly from the lower front portion of said blade, and a relativelypointed protuberance projecting forwardly from the front of said guidenose, said fabric-engaging surfaces being in convergent relationshipfrom said guide nose rearwardly to the back edge of the central element.

'1. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adJacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite flatfabricengaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said flat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabricengaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said flat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade therebetween. a guide nose on thecentral element in advance of said separating blade between the planesof the fiat faces on the opposite sides of said central element, saidguide nose having an upper surface transversely inclined in oppositedirections outwardly from the median plane of said nose andlongitudinally inclined forwardly and downwardly from the lower frontportion of said blade, and a relatively pointed protuberance projectingforwardly from the front of said guide nose, said fabric-engagingsurfaces being in convergent relationship from said guide noserearwardly to the back edge of the central element, and the bottom edgesof said central and side elements being beveled with the oppositelydisposed bevels converging toward the lower edges of said flatfabricengaging surfaces on the central and side elements respectively.

8. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite flatfabric-engaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said fiat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabricengaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said flat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade. a guide nose on the central elementin advance of said separating blade between the planes of the fiatsurfaces on the opposite sides of said central element. said guide nosehaving an upper surface transversely inclined in opposite directionsoutwardly from the median plane of said nose and longitudinally inclinedforwardly and downwardly from the lower front portion of said blade, arelatively pointed protuberance projecting forwardly from the front ofsaid guide nose, said fabric-engaging surfaces being in convergentrelationship from said guide nose rearwardly to the back edge of thecentral element, and the bottom edges of said central and side elementsbeing beveled with the oppositely disposed bevels converging toward thelower edges of said flat fabric-engaging surfaces on the central andside elements respectively, and a guide nose on each of the sideelements at opposite sides respectively of the guide nose on saidcentral element.

9. A device for simultaneously removing curl from two adjacentlypositioned knitted fabric edges comprising a central element and a pairof cooperating elements at opposite sides respectively of said centralelement, said central and side elements having laterally opposite fiatfabricengaging surfaces provided with forward coinciding arcuate edges,a curl unrolling shoulder at and cooperating with each of saidcoinciding edges and disposed at acute angles to said flat surfaces ofthe central and side elements respectively, a fabric-separating blade onsaid central element in a plane intermediate the planes of thefabricengaging surfaces on the opposite sides respectively of saidcentral element, said acute angle shoulders on said central elementextending from said fiat surfaces thereof to the opposite sidesrespectively of said dividing blade, a guide nose on the central elementin advance of said separating blade between the planes of the atsurfaces on the opposite sides of said central element, said guide nosehaving an upper surface transversely inclined in opposite directionsoutwardly from the median plane of said nose and longitudinally inclinedforwardly and downwardly from the lower front portion of said blade, arelatively pointed protuberance projecting forwardly from the front ofsaid guide nose, said fabric-engaging surfaces being in convergentrelationship from said guide nose rearwardly to the back edge of thecentral element, and the bottom edges .of said central and side elementsbeing beveled with the oppositely disposed bevels converging toward thelower edges of said fiat fabric-engaging surfaces on the central andside elements respectively, and a guide nose on each of the sideelements at opposite sides respectively of the guide nose on saidcentral element, said central and side elements being recessedintermediate the rear edges of the guide noses and the forward edges ofthe unrolling shoulders thereon.

FRANK G. REUI'HER.

